“Speak up for those who cannot speak for themselves, for the rights of all who are destitute. Speak up and judge fairly; defend the rights of the poor and needy” (Proverbs 31:8-9 NIV).When I think of this verse, I can’t think of any group in the world that this verse defines better than orphans. They have no voice. They are powerless and helpless.
Throughout the scriptures, God expressly says that He cares about orphans. “If you do not oppress the alien, the fatherless or the widow and do not shed innocent blood in this place, if you do not follow other gods…then I will let you live in this place, in the land I gave your forefathers for ever and ever” (Jeremiah 7:6-7).
Notice that one of the conditions for the Israelites to live in the promise land was…You’d better take care of orphans! The Lord was saying to His people, “If you don’t do that you’re going to lose your right to the privilege of the promise land.” God takes it just that seriously.
On a stormy night, a scared little boy ran from his bed into his parent’s room and jumped right in the middle of their bed. The storm passed and the mother said, “Son, you can go back to your room now. Jesus is with you.” He replied, “I know, but right now I need someone with skin on!”
Jesus said in John 14:18, “I will not leave you comfortless” (from the Greek word orphanos, meaning “fatherless”).
For 63 years, Tupelo Children’s Mansion has embodied this promise of Jesus. TCM has been there to provide the “skin” of Jesus’ comfort for over 2,000 scared and troubled children who, through no fault of their own, have been deprived of the love and nurture that every child longs for and deserves.
While not all of our children at the Mansion are true orphans in the strictest sense of the term, most all of our residents are “social orphans” in that their parents have stepped out of their lives and abdicated their role as a mother and a father.
“Pure religion and undefiled before God and the Father is this, “To visit the fatherless and widows in their affliction, and to keep himself unspotted from the world’” (James 1:27).
You can help support Tupelo Children’s Mansion by becoming a Mansion Kid Sponsor. You will receive a welcome packet upon enrollment. Each quarter, an update will be sent to you with information about how your child is doing, along with a new photo, and ways that that you can make a difference in your child’s life.
For more information on how you can support Tupelo Children’s Mansion, go to http://www.mansionkids.org.